Absorbent article with surface structure

Abstract

There is disclosed an absorbent article including: a surface structure having a liquid-permeable surface sheet located on a liquid-receiving side; a back sheet; and an absorbent core sandwiched between the surface structure and the back sheet. In an area including at least a centerline extending in a longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, the surface sheet is corrugated to form recesses and ridges extending in the longitudinal direction and alternating with each other in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The ridges are given an elastically shrinking function in the longitudinal direction at least at their crests or vicinities thereof so that the surface structure is formed into a curved shape. The surface structure thus curved can fit the shape of a crotch. Therefore, the liquid is hard to flow in the transverse direction to prevent the leakage.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An absorbent article comprising: a surface structure having a liquid-permeable surface sheet located on a liquid-receiving side; a back sheet; and an absorbent core sandwiched between the surface structure and the back sheet, 
       wherein, in an area including at least a centerline extending in a longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, the surface sheet is corrugated to form recesses and ridges extending in the longitudinal direction and alternating with each other in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the ridges are given an elastically shrinking function in the longitudinal direction at least at their crests or vicinities thereof so that the surface structure is formed into a curved shape,  
       wherein the surface structure further comprises a liquid-permeable support sheet located between the surface sheet and the absorbent core, and the support sheet is bonded to the recesses of the surface sheet, and  
       a cushion layer is provided inside of the ridges such that the cushion layer is sandwiched between the surface sheet and the support sheet.  
     
     
       2. An absorbent article according to  claim 1 , wherein ridges in a center region including the longitudinally extending centerline are different in height from other ridges in two side regions outside of the center region. 
     
     
       3. An absorbent article according to  claim 2 , wherein cover sheets are provided to cover longitudinal end portions of the ridges. 
     
     
       4. An absorbent article comprising: a surface structure have a liquid-permeable surface located on a liquid-receiving side; a back sheet; and an absorbent core sandwiched between the surface structure and the back sheet, 
       wherein, in an area including at least a centerline extending in a longitudinal direction of the absorbent article, the surface sheet is corrugated to form recesses and ridges extending in the longitudinal direction and alternating with each other in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the ridges are given an elastically shrinking function in the longitudinal direction at least at their crests or vicinities thereof so that the surface structure is formed into a curved shape,  
       wherein the surface structure further comprises a liquid-permeable support sheet located between the surface sheet and the absorbent core, and the support sheet is bonded to the recesses of the surface sheet,  
       elastic members extending in the longitudinal direction are attached to the crests of the ridges of the surface sheet so as to extend along the crests and give the elastically shrinking function thereto, and  
       a cushion layer is provided inside of the ridges such that the cushion layer is sandwiched between the surface sheet and the support sheet.  
     
     
       5. An absorbent article according to  claim 4 , wherein ridges in a center region including the longitudinally extending centerline are different in height from other ridges in two side regions outside of the center region. 
     
     
       6. An absorbent article according to  claim 5 , wherein cover sheets are provided to cover longitudinal end portions of the ridges. 
     
     
       7. An absorbent article according to  claim 4 , wherein cover sheets are provided to cover longitudinal end portions of the ridges.